Cultural tourism rises in first three months of the year, Shkodër Castle leads visitor rankings
TIRANA, April 10 – The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports said cultural tourism recorded strong growth in the first three months of 2026. Minister Blendi Gonxhja published data showing increased visitor numbers across archaeological parks, museums, and heritage sites. The figures point to higher interest from both domestic and …
Local government reform should focus on service quality, not number of municipalities, minister says
TIRANA, April 10 – Minister of State for Local Government Ervin Demo said the territorial and administrative reform should prioritise service quality for citizens. He said the debate should not focus only on the number of municipalities. He spoke after a government meeting on Wednesday. Demo said the ministry works …
Pre-university education reform to focus on talents and extracurricular activities
TIRANA, April 10 – Education Minister Mirela Kumbaro said the government has introduced new measures to strengthen extracurricular programmes in pre-university education. She said the reforms aim to extend learning beyond mandatory classroom hours and focus more on student development. She explained that the Ministry of Education has expanded after-school …
Ahmet Prençi’s Novel “The Minister” Gets Promoted
Kamzë Municipality hosted the promotion of Ahmet Prençi’s new novel, “The Minister”, at the “Angela Merkel” school. The event gathered Mayor Rakip Suli, the book’s publisher Elda Vela, writers Ben Blushi, Arben Çejku, and Ylljet Aliçka. Actors Ervin Bejleri and Ola Arizaj performed excerpts from the novel, engaging the audience. …
12-Year-Old from Lezha Will Represent Albania at Sanremo Junior 2026
Ambra Marku, a 12-year-old from Lezha with a unique voice and artistic performance, has been chosen to represent Albania at Sanremo Junior 2026. This is one of the most prestigious stages for young artists worldwide. Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, Blendi Gonxhja, announced that Ambra will perform the song …
Exhibition of Salvador Dalí opens at COD with extraordinary surrealist collection
The Center for Openness and Dialogue (COD) opened a special exhibition today. It honors Salvador Dalí. It brings an extraordinary collection to Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the ceremony. He called the event a special moment for art. He also praised the organizers. The exhibition presents the Argillet Collection. …
Seferi: Gender equality is a shared responsibility
The sixth National Forum “Boys and Men Who Inspire” took place today in Tirana. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection described the forum as a strong platform. It promotes dialogue, reflection, and action. It supports gender equality. It also helps prevent gender-based violence. Deputy Minister Denada Seferi attended the …
Rama: Blocking the EU integration process? A complete joke
Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke at the Socialist Party Assembly in Durrës. He rejected opposition claims. He called them a complete joke. The opposition said nine countries blocked Albania’s EU integration. Rama said the opposition made similar claims before. He mentioned the Peace Board. Albania later received an invitation. Albania …
Gonxhja: Creative industries make 3% of GDP and employ over 21,000 people
The National Center of Cinematography and the National Youth Agency held the event “Turn Passion into Profession” today. Tourism, Culture, and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja attended the event. He said the initiative answers doubts about creative industries in Albania. Gonxhja said the sector contributes about 3% of GDP. It employs …
Gonzato: Speculation exists, but no block in Albania’s EU integration
EU Ambassador to Albania Silvio Gonzato spoke to Euronews Albania. He said Albania’s EU integration continues normally. He rejected claims of a block. He called them speculation. Gonzato said member states hold regular discussions. They follow standard EU procedures. They conduct them confidentially. He addressed reports about countries with reservations. …
.TIRANA, April 17 – Albania’s Transparency Board has set new maximum fuel prices that take effect at 1600 local time on Friday. The decision caps retail diesel prices at no more than 210 Lek per litre. The board set wholesale diesel prices at no more than 198 Lek per litre. …
TIRANA, April 17 – Albania’s annual inflation measured by the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices stood at 2.6% in March. The data follows the methodology of Eurostat and reflects changes in consumer prices. The Institute of Statistics reported a monthly increase of 0.9% compared with February. Transport led the rise …
TIRANA, April 17 – President Bajram Begaj received the credentials of Turkey’s new ambassador to Albania, Barıs Ceyhun Erciyes. The ceremony took place in Tirana as part of formal diplomatic procedures. During the meeting, both sides discussed bilateral relations, regional cooperation and their partnership within NATO. They also addressed European …
TIRANA, April 17 – European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said Albania is progressing steadily on its path toward European Union membership. She made the remarks in an interview with BBC. Kos said Albania continues to advance in its reform agenda as enlargement returns to the European Union’s strategic priorities. …
A momentous election spells change not just for Hungary but also for much of the Western Balkans, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlights. Original post Here
New legal amendments allowing ‘strategic investors’ to develop port facilities at tourist resorts without competitive tenders represent the latest custom-written legislation brought in by Edi Rama’s government to benefit big business, critics claim. Original post Here
TIRANA, April 17 – The Albanian government has approved a set of regulatory changes for foreign nationals aimed at reducing bureaucracy and speeding up procedures. The reform also seeks to align migration and labour rules with European standards. The changes were published in the Official Gazette. The new framework introduces …
The Albanian Football Federation announced ticket sales for the “Final Four” of the Abissnet Superiore. Fans can buy tickets starting today. The four best teams will play six matches to decide the champion. All games will take place at Air Albania Stadium. First and second round matches will be held …
Fidel Ylli, President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee, visited the Italian Paralympic Committee headquarters in Rome. He met President Marco Giunio De Sanctis. They discussed technical assistance for creating the Albanian Paralympic Committee. They called it an important step for Paralympic sport in Albania. The process follows recent changes …
TIRANA, April 17 – Director General of Albanian Customs Besmir Beja met World Customs Organization Secretary General Ian Saunders in Brussels during the Annual Meeting of European regional customs leaders. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation and accelerating customs digitalisation. The Albanian side highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at modernising customs …